questions · the short answers

Asked often. Answered straight.

No hedging, no fine print. Makery is a maker's studio where kids aged 10–18 direct AI to build their own games — everything a parent or young maker wants to know before starting: safety, cost, and what actually gets made.

Parent-approved publishing No DMs, ever No ads, ever Just smart fun
the basics

Start here — what Makery is.

The four things everyone asks first, answered plainly.

What is Makery?
Makery is a maker's studio for ages 10–18. Your child tells the AI what kind of game they want, then shapes it — faster, harder, a whole new look — until it's truly theirs, and plays it with friends. Nobody learns to code here; they learn to direct AI, the skill that will matter most for the rest of their lives.
Do we need to know how to code?
No — not a single line. Your child describes what they want in plain words, the AI builds a first version, and they change one thing at a time until it feels right. Older makers can go deeper into real projects step by step, but it's always directing, never hand-coding from scratch.
What will my child actually make?
Real, playable games — a fox that jumps for coins, a rocket dodging asteroids, a puzzle maze they designed themselves. They can make a first game in about five minutes and build up to bigger projects, keeping every one. It's making they genuinely care about, not worksheets.
How is this different from just using ChatGPT?
A chatbot hands over an answer and moves on. Makery is built to teach — it has your child produce their own idea first, then shape the AI's work, and it keeps a record of how they did it. It's safe by design too: no open chat with strangers, no ads, and a parent approves anything that goes public.
safety & parents

Safe by design — with you in the loop.

The parent questions matter most, so here are the full answers.

Is it safe? No DMs, no ads, no strangers.
Safe by design, not bolted on. There are no DMs and no way for strangers to message your child, no ads anywhere, and no endless feed. The Showcase exists only for playing each other's games — nothing else. Everything is built for young makers aged 10–18 first.
How does publishing work?
Nothing your child makes goes public until you say yes. Every build stays in their own private space until a parent approves it — then, and only then, it can join the Showcase for friends to play. You're in the loop on every single thing that leaves the studio.
What ages is it for?
Makery is made for young makers aged 10 to 18. The studio, the coach and the safety design are all tuned to that range — simple enough for a curious ten-year-old's first game, deep enough for an eighteen-year-old building a real portfolio.
What about kids under 13?
For under-13s, a parent sets up and confirms the account first — real, verifiable parental consent, exactly as the rules require. You stay the account holder, you approve what gets published, and you can review or export their work whenever you like.
Isn't this just cheating with AI?
Directing AI is the skill — so "cheating with AI" isn't a thing here. We measure the quality of the direction and the process: the turns your child took, what they rejected and why, the changes they made from real feedback. We never grade on whether AI was used, only on how well it was directed.
How much screen time is this?
Every session ends on something your child made, not on "just five more minutes." There's no infinite scroll and no reward for staying longer — the goal is a finished game and a clear stopping point. A typical making session is short and has an actual finish line.
learning & progress

Real skills, real evidence.

What your child grows, how we track it honestly, and what they graduate with.

What are the six values?
Every game grows six things parents care about: Clear Communication (say exactly what you mean), Problem-Solving (break big into small), Creativity (make something your own), Critical Thinking (judge quality, don't trust blindly), Self-Awareness (understand how you learn) and Ownership (direct the tools and own the result). They're earned by making, not by watching.
What is the Journey?
The Journey is your child's written record of how they made things — the ideas they tried, the choices they made, the feedback they used. It's kept for life and it's theirs to take with them. It's the part that can't be faked, and the part worth having long after any one game.
How do you measure progress?
With real evidence, never a made-up percentage. If your child hasn't shown enough of a skill yet, we show an empty slot and name the next thing to try — we'd rather say "not yet" honestly than post a fake "92%." Every bit of progress traces back to something they actually did.
What is the certificate?
When your child completes the journey they graduate as a tale maker — a certificate that stands on real work and a real record, not attendance. It certifies the skill of directing AI, which travels with them into school, work and whatever they make next. It's a bag of value for life.
money & practical

Honest pricing, no lock-in.

Free is a real product. Here's exactly what costs what, and how to leave if you want to.

What does it cost?
Free forever for the core journey — up to 3 fresh modules a day and 10 asset generations a month, no card needed. Maker is $8/month for unlimited modules and premium assets; Legend is $25/month for the most advanced makers. Start free today and decide later.
What's free vs paid?
Starter gives you the whole journey at up to 3 fresh modules a day, unlimited practice and coaching, and 10 asset generations a month. Maker ($8/mo) removes the daily cap, adds more builds and generations, and unlocks premium assets. Nothing important is hidden — free is a real product, not a teaser.
What are premium assets?
Premium assets are the extra art, characters, stickers and sounds your child can drop into their games — a bigger pantry that makes builds look and feel more polished. They're a Maker perk and never required: every part of the journey can be finished with the free library alone.
Do we need our own AI subscription or API key?
No. The AI runs inside Makery — your child never picks a model, pastes a key, or pays a separate provider. It's all included, and it all passes through our safety layer, so there's nothing for you to set up or manage.
Can we keep or export what we make?
Yes — everything your child makes is theirs. Games and their record can be exported, shared (with your yes), and taken with them anytime. If you ever leave, you lose nothing you made.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, anytime, in a couple of clicks — no phone calls, no hoops. Cancel Maker and you simply return to the free plan and keep everything you've made. An annual option exists if you'd rather not think about it monthly, but nothing locks you in.

Didn't find your question?

Send it over — a real person answers, usually the same day.

The best answer is a game they made.

Start free — no card. It takes about five minutes to make the first one.